Damien Duff dedicates award to wife Elaine: ‘I’ve probably spent more time giving love and affection and care to Paddy, Sean and Mark’

Duff was named Men’s Premier Division Manager of the Year on Saturday afternoon while Cork City’s Tim Clancy won the First Division award after spearheading the Leesiders’ charge to promotion from the second tier.

League winning manager Duff saw off competition from Drogheda United’s FAI Cup winning boss Kevin Doherty and Galway United’s John Caulfield to claim the accolade at the annual post-season PFAI function.

When asked it was strange to win an award voted on by his direct rivals, Duff said: “Are we friends? No. Will we ever be friends? No. But I have to say they make me feel alive, thinking about them and what they’re going to do on Friday night keeps me awake every night.”

The Republic of Ireland centurion is entering his fourth season as Shels manager and while the champions were newly promoted at the time of his appointment, three seasons later they ended an 18-year drought for league success.

He dedicated his win to wife Elaine. “This belongs to her,” he said.

“Why? I’ve probably spent more time giving love and affection and care to Paddy (Barrett), Sean (Boyd) and Mark (Coyle) than I do my own wife and kids. I’m addicted to hard work, I’m addicted to Shelbourne Football Club and I’m addicted to the League of Ireland. At times, in all seriousness, I put my family second.”

Duff – who claimed he has spent over €10,000 of his own money on funding nights out for his players this season – also said that being the team other sides want to beat next season won’t be a new experience for Shels.

“We’ve had a target on our back because we annoyed so many people and we’ve consciously started fights with people,” he said. “I guess you could say we’re the top of the tree now and from my experience and everyone else’s experience in this room, it’s harder to stay there.”

Shamrock Rovers’ Dylan Watts was crowned Men’s Premier Division Player of the Year, ahead of nominees Padraig Amond of Waterford and Derry City’s Michael Duffy.

Watts’ win marks the fourth time in the last six years that a Rovers player has claimed the award, as voted for by his fellow players.

St Patrick’s Athletic’s 17-year-old striker Mason Melia won the Young Player of the Year award, beating Cork’s Cathal O’Sullivan and Rovers’ on-loan Celtic striker Johnny Kenny.

Cork centre half Charlie Lyons was voted the Men’s First Division Player of the Year by PFAI members.

Republic of Ireland international Julie-Ann Russell won the Women’s Premier Division Player of the Year after a fine year for Galway United, who finished third in the league. Ellen Dolan of Peamount United won the Women’s Young Player gong.

Ciaran Kilduff, who this month signed a two-year-deal to manage Dundalk, won the Women’s Premier Division Manager of the Year award after guiding Athlone Town to the league title.

Liam Scales and Courtney Brosnan won the Men’s and Women’s Overseas Player of the Year awards respectively, at a ceremony held at The College Green Hotel in Dublin city centre.